Updated 28th June 2011
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The park was officially opened, and renamed 'Ashley Cross Green' by the Mayor of Poole, Councillor Graham Wilson, on Saturday the 25th of June. |
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PETANQUE PITCHES Anyone wishing to play petanque can find all the equipment they need at adjacent bar and restaurant Le Bateau, along Commercial Road. There is no charge for the use of the pitches and equipment but Le Bateau will require a £20 refundable deposit while items are out on loan. Block bookings for groups or clubs interested in playing pétanque there regularly can be made with staff at Le Bateau. Notices about how to play, where to get equipment and how to book are available at the park. |
The Contract for this project was awarded in December 2010 to C J Lee & Sons of Fordingbridge.
The works in brief - we have:
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Created more of a 'welcome' at main park entrances
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Resurfaced footpaths through the park
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Replaced the fountain with one of traditional, Victorian design
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Created an informal 'performance space' with electric power supply that might also be used (for example) for a Christmas tree and carol singing, or as an outdoor exhibition area by local artists
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Added a range of informal seating options to the traditional park benches that have been a feature of the park for many years
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Created an informal 'play path' for very young children
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Introduced a Pétanque terrain (two pitches) for casual or organised use by all ages - more about the game
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Installed a community notice board
It is hoped that some funding will also be available to make improvements to boundary hedge planting.
Following consultation with residents and other users between 2007-2009 we changed the original proposals that involved installing traditional park railings, and associated gates, along the frontages with Commercial Road and Station Road. Many people objected to the proposal, some simply on the grounds that they felt it would be a waste of money, others suggesting that they would feel less safe in an enclosed space.
Initial proposals for a new, contemporary fountain were not popular with those residents and council colleagues involved in the public consultation, and a search was instigated for a traditional, Victorian-style design.
Early in 2010 we were delighted to hear that the Landscape Architects contracted to the project had managed to source an original cast iron Victorian fountain (see photo, above right) which appeared to be in fair condition and the perfect size for a small park. It was then restored for us by architectural restoration specialists Barr & Grosvenor of Wolverhampton.
The fountain is approximately 2.5m/8ft tall (or 3.2m/10.5ft including its plinth. It features two bowls (0.9m/3ft and 1.7m/5ft diameter) and is topped by an otter and fish figure.
We understand it was manufactured by McDowall, Steven & Co Ltd at the Milton Ironworks in Glasgow in the late 1880s or early 1890s.
During our research we also discovered three other surviving examples of the original sized fountain surviving - two in Scotland - 'Stevens fountain' on the sea front in Ayr (dated 1892) and at Wilton Lodge Park, Hawick (both of which Barr & Grosvenor visited for reference during the project to restore out less complete model) and one in Morrab Gardens in Penzance.
An even grander version was supplied to the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1888 in Kelvingrove Park, and was re-erected in Cathedral Square Glasgow where it survived until the 1940s.
From research conducted by John Bolton of the Scottish Ironwork Foundation it has been suggested that there is an outside possibility that the new fountain in Parkstone Park is actually the top section of the fountain from the Glasgow Exhibition.
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'Stevens' fountain on the seafront at Ayr |
Wilton Lodge park, Hawick |
Morrab Gardens, Penzance |
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Glasgow Cathedral Square The fountain shown here (left) was displayed at the 1888 Glasgow International Exhibition before being transferred to the city's Cathedral Square in 1890. It was believed to have been scrapped c.1960, but recent research now suggests that the top section survived and is now in Parkstone Park. Photo and research courtesy of the Scottish Ironwork Foundation |
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Funding & contact information
